Alright, so I’ve been eyeing this PRADA Cahier bag for ages, but that price tag? Ouch! So I thought, “Why not try to remake one myself?” I mean, how hard could it be, right? Famous last words, I know.
First off, I started scouring the internet for any info on this bag. Turns out, it’s inspired by ancient books. Cool, cool. I found a bunch of listings on those resale sites, some going for like 70% off, but still kinda pricey. Some even say “up to 90% off” but its really not a good deal. Then I hit up the official PRADA store online just to see what the real deal looked like. That’s when I realized this project might be more challenging than I thought. This bag’s got details on details.
But I was determined. I started looking for places that sell similar leather and hardware. And it is very hard. After going online and to different stores in person, I finally found some materials that seemed to be pretty close to the original. I mean, they’re not perfect, but hey, it’s a remake, not a replica, right?
Next up, the actual crafting part. I watched a ton of videos on leatherworking, and let me tell you, it’s a whole other world. I tried my best to follow along, cutting, stitching, and gluing. There were a lot of mess-ups, I won’t lie. And some parts I totally winged it, just hoping for the best. There was a lot of swearing involved, not gonna lie, and more than a few “what am I even doing?” moments. But after what felt like forever, I actually had something that kinda resembled the PRADA Cahier bag.
- The leather: I found some soft calf leather that had a similar texture and feel to the original. It wasn’t the exact same color, but it was close enough.
- The hardware: This was tricky. I couldn’t find exact replicas of the PRADA hardware, so I settled for some generic metal pieces that had a similar vibe.
- The stitching: Oh boy, the stitching. Let’s just say it’s not my forte. But I did my best, and it’s holding up so far!
In the end, is it a perfect remake? Absolutely not. But did I learn a lot? You bet. And do I have a new appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into these designer bags? 100%. Would I do it again? Probably not. But hey, at least I have a one-of-a-kind bag and a good story to tell, right?
So, there you have it, my adventure in trying to remake the PRADA Cahier bag. It was a wild ride, but I’m glad I did it. Maybe next time I’ll just save up for the real thing, though.
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